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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

October 21, 2011

Welcome to Inspiration Friday No. 37!

 
Inspiration Friday Graphic large
Welcome! Can you believe October is almost over?! Weather is cooling down, the leaves are falling and linky parties are full of Fall Inspiration! Before we share this week’s features with you we have two special announcements.  First…the winner of the Sutton Place Designs Giveaway!



Random Generator chose entry # 34: Deb (chedeb5353@hotmail.com) is the winner of a $35 credit towards anything of her choosing at Sutton Place Designs.  Congratulations!! Please contact us and we’ll put you in touch with Ann!
We also want to welcome Cottage In The Oaks as our newest sponsor At The Picket Fence! Daune has the most beautiful items for sale in her store.  Here’s just one of the lovely things you can purchase at Cottage In The Oaks.

  GATHER Burlap Banner / Pennant
Please pay Cottage In The Oaks a visit! We appreciate the support of our sponsors!
Now onto our Features!
 
picketfence_20010_thumb[18]
Since we officially deemed this Pumpkin Week here at the Fence, we thought it fitting that we would show off just a few of the fabulous Pumpkin creations which caught our eye at last weeks party!
Rope Pumpkin from Completely Coastal            Ruffled Pumpkin from My 1929 Charmer
pumpkin craft with rope
   Fox Hollow Cottage Fall Décor                              A. Steed’s Life Black/White Pumpkins
              
Fancy Frugal Life Pumpkin WhoopiePies                    Primp Pumpkins and Bistro Chairs
  
Mitzi’s Miscellany A Wicked Arrangement                 Home Savvy A to Z Pumpkin Topiaries
 
        
Ready for even more fabulous features?
Last week you all just stunned us! Truly, we would feature every single one of you if there was room in this post, but since we can’t, we will highlight just a few more projects and hope that you will trust us when we tell you how talented all of you are!

What do you do when your home doesn’t have a fireplace? Why, make one of course!
That is just what Holly from Heartbreak Kids did with the help of her hubby.
Using reclaimed barn wood, bi-fold doors and other cabinetry, they created this beautiful addition to their home. They even made it easy to move to another place in their home by building it in four separate pieces. We love how she decorated her new mantel too!

We just absolutely adore this darling Ladybug Party from A Simply Klassic Home! There are so many more incredible details that went into making this an extra special celebration so we encourage you to head over and check it out for yourself! 

 
And while we are on the subject of things that are red, black and polka dotted, check out this amazingly adorable apron crafted by the talented Angelina of Ruby Jean.
It all began when she found a darling Dot to Dot printout of Little Molly Fitcher which she used to embroider onto the oversized front pocket of this sweet apron.

Photobucket 
Lisa at Take Six made us completely ready to head up north and join her family so that we too could celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving in the Country. Hey! Someone is hogging our hammock!
Photobucket
Blue Chateau Interiors shared this wonderful post with us about how to get your kids to be proud of their Goodwill Clothing. Not only does her daughter Grace look adorable in her $10 Abercrombie and Fitch ensemble, Grace has taken this new found thriftiness to the next level and has started her own blog to encourage other young people to not only shop for bargains but to be proud of it!
We know she would be thrilled if you went over to pay her a visit at Grace’s Good(will) Closet.
We think you will agree that she is one pretty amazing (and adorable) 10 year old!

Thank you to all of our features this week as well as to all of you who share your amazing ideas, projects and inspiration with us each and every week! If you were featured today (or have been featured in the past) please grab the featured at button code located in on our Buttons Page found at under our header!
Are you following At The Picket Fence on Facebook?  Don’t forget we feature many of your links during the week on our Facebook Page! If you’ve been featured there, grab a button as well! Thank you to everyone who shared so many fabulous posts with us last week!  We appreciate you!
Now it’s time to share with us what has inspired you this week!
Thank you so much for joining us for Inspiration Friday at the Fence,
When you are done linking up head over and party with the other Friday Party Friends:

stuffandnonsense
vif187


Now all ya PARTY PEOPLE it’s time to link on up…here’s the rules!
  • Friend At The Picket Fence in some capacity
  • Link Up any post you’ve written that has Inspired You and will Inspire Others-it can be a home improvement project, craft, recipe, story, devotional…if it inspires link it up!
  • Be sure to link back to your original post and not just your url (main blog address)
  • Please post our button (code on our Buttons Page found at top of blog) or a text link on your blog so others can join in the fun! (MANDATORY) Tutorial on how to link up a button: Blogging 101
  • Visit another guest. Please try and visit at least the link directly above and below you! We try to visit as many posts as we can but as Inspiration Friday grows sometimes we miss some and for that we apologize.  It makes us feed good knowing others are visiting people as well!  Thank you..it truly means a lot to us!

This Inspiration Friday is brought to you by the following sponsor:



55 Comments Filed Under: Inspiration Friday

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Previous Post: « A Tale of 3 Pumpkins … Pumpkin Three: Ribbon
Next Post: End of Pumpkin Week … Curried Pumpkin Soup »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    October 20, 2011 at 8:10 PM

    Thanks for hosting, ladies! It is definitely feeling like Fall here this week!

    Reply
  2. Debbiedoo's blogging and blabbing says

    October 20, 2011 at 8:12 PM

    Thanks for hosting girls. Have a fabulous weekend. Cold here in South Carolina!

    Reply
  3. Andrea at Opulent Cottage says

    October 20, 2011 at 8:15 PM

    Love the pumpkins! And I just adore little Grace, a girl after my own heart! My daughter Abby is always super-proud of her thrifted treasures, too, and seems to have my nose for sniffing out the good stuff :)Thanks for hosting us again this week! xo, Andrea

    Reply
  4. Vivienne @ the V Spot says

    October 20, 2011 at 8:18 PM

    Thanks for hosting the party ladies! Love the features. That white monochromatic mantel is gorgeous!

    Reply
  5. Bella Vista says

    October 20, 2011 at 8:19 PM

    Thanks for hosting and all the wonderful inspiration.

    Barb

    Reply
  6. Rosemary@villabarnes says

    October 20, 2011 at 8:22 PM

    Great pumpkin inspiration. Thanks for being such wonderful hosts.

    Reply
  7. Kristin says

    October 20, 2011 at 8:23 PM

    WOW!! Thanks so much for featuring my ladybug party!!! I had so much fun putting it all together and I am thrilled to have been included in your line up of very talented ladies!!!

    Reply
  8. debbie--https://refreshrestyle.com/ says

    October 20, 2011 at 9:01 PM

    Thanks for hosting! It’s so much fun seeing what everyone comes up with each week!
    Debbie

    Reply
  9. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    October 20, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    Girls, great features. It is amazing the talent out there and that we can get completely different participants at our parties. Thanks for hosting.

    Reply
  10. Stuff and Nonsense says

    October 20, 2011 at 9:17 PM

    your features are
    just fabulous
    as usual

    i am all linked up and
    thanks for hosting girls!

    alison

    Reply
  11. The Polka Dot Closet says

    October 20, 2011 at 11:01 PM

    I am thrilled to link up! I am your newest follower and looking forward to following your lovely blog!! Thank you for hosting!!

    Carol

    Reply
  12. Katie says

    October 20, 2011 at 11:25 PM

    SO hard to believe October is almost over! I love all the creative ways everyone uses their pumpkins!! Thanks for hosting ladies!

    Reply
  13. Maya @ Completely Coastal says

    October 20, 2011 at 11:29 PM

    Thanks so much for including my rope pumpkin!!!

    Reply
  14. Ruby Jean says

    October 20, 2011 at 11:36 PM

    Oh, ME, OH MY!!!!! Thank you so much for this Very kind feature… I was so thrilled when I was reading and scrolled down to see My name and Apron…. So Very Sweet of you…Truly…

    Reply
  15. Diann says

    October 20, 2011 at 11:37 PM

    Lots of fun inspiration here today! Thank you for hosting!

    Reply
  16. Debra @ Common Ground says

    October 20, 2011 at 11:41 PM

    Hi Gals, love all the great pumpkin inspiration! just linked up, xoxo

    Reply
  17. andrea says

    October 20, 2011 at 11:45 PM

    Hello, and thank you for hosting again! This time, the pumpkin whoopie pies take the cake! andrea@townandprairie

    Reply
  18. Laurel says

    October 20, 2011 at 11:50 PM

    Hi ladies 🙂 So many fun features…especially that little Grace, too cute! Thanks for hosting, Laurel

    Reply
  19. Kim @ Cheap Chic Home says

    October 21, 2011 at 12:02 AM

    Loved your features! Those are some creative pumpkins.

    Reply
  20. A Cozy Cottage in the City says

    October 21, 2011 at 12:06 AM

    Awesome features!!! Thank you for your blog’s constant inspiration!!! 🙂

    XOXO’s,
    Jessie

    Reply
  21. Gwen @ The Bold Abode says

    October 21, 2011 at 12:09 AM

    Hi Vanessa and Heather! You’ve just reminded me…

    I NEED TO GET A PUMPKIN!

    AAAAAGGGGGHHHH!!!!

    My poor babies…

    Thanks for throwin’ this rockin” party!

    Reply
  22. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    October 21, 2011 at 12:15 AM

    Hi Heather and Vanessa! Thanks for all the inspiration you share each week. You are the most gracious hostess.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

    Reply
  23. Cathy @My 1929 Charmer says

    October 21, 2011 at 12:30 AM

    Thank you for hosting this great par.tay every week. A big THANKS for featuring my ruffled pumpkin. So COOL!

    Reply
  24. Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR says

    October 21, 2011 at 12:56 AM

    Heather and Vanessa, Thanks so much for hosting each week! I look forward to all of the inspiration!

    Reply
  25. Christina says

    October 21, 2011 at 1:17 AM

    Thanks so much for hosting; there are so many amazing projects here!!!

    Take care,
    Christina
    designingbynumbers.blogspot.com

    Reply
  26. Natasha in Oz says

    October 21, 2011 at 1:24 AM

    Thanks so much for having me today. Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

    Reply
  27. Marla and Steve says

    October 21, 2011 at 1:41 AM

    Thank you, thank you for hosting!!

    Reply
  28. Kerry Rossow says

    October 21, 2011 at 1:59 AM

    Thank you so much for organizing and hosting such an awesome par-taaay!
    Kerry at housetalkn.blogspot.com

    Reply
  29. Cindy says

    October 21, 2011 at 3:56 AM

    Thanks for hosting this great party, Ladies. Love the mantle. New follower here.

    Cindy @ changeofpacecreations.blogspot.com

    Reply
  30. Leslie says

    October 21, 2011 at 3:58 AM

    Thanks for hosting another wonderful party! Just wanted to say that this week I posted about a more personal story, instead of my usual recipe. 🙂 It’s called, “The Gift”.

    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Blessings,
    leslie

    Reply
  31. Catie @ Catie's Corner says

    October 21, 2011 at 4:10 AM

    Hi Ladies! Some great features. The lady bug party is soo cute! Thanks soo much for hosting. I think I’ve missed a week or two being sick. Felt strange not “partying”. lol Know what I mean? Anyway, I’m feeling better and I’m all linked up! Have a great weekend. =)

    ~ Catie

    Reply
  32. Kahli says

    October 21, 2011 at 5:17 AM

    Thanks for hosting! Great features you have here

    Reply
  33. Erin {Lavender and Lemon Drops} says

    October 21, 2011 at 5:58 AM

    Thanks for hosting 🙂 Have a fantastic weekend!

    Reply
  34. Gail says

    October 21, 2011 at 8:27 AM

    Great features this week. Thanks for hosting.

    Reply
  35. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    October 21, 2011 at 4:02 AM

    Hi girls!!! All liked up!! Thanks for sharing such fabulous highlights and for hosting!! 🙂

    Reply
  36. Debbie says

    October 21, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    Great features. You even featured one of my favorite blogs (Ruby Jean). I would have linked up my trash can corn husk pumpkin, but well… you know…

    Reply
  37. trumatter says

    October 21, 2011 at 12:17 PM

    After hearing so much about picket fence, here I am finally! Have shared obviously and wanted to tell you that I was missing this amazing party 🙂

    Block Rocking Beats.

    Reply
  38. Karen says

    October 21, 2011 at 12:50 PM

    dropping by to say hi & thanks for hosting and sharing all these great crafting ladies with us!

    Reply
  39. Jenny @ Embellishing Life says

    October 21, 2011 at 1:11 PM

    Thank you for hosting! Enjoy your weekend!

    Reply
  40. Carole @ Blue Chateau Interiors says

    October 21, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    Thanks so much for the shout-out and for featuring Grace’s Good{will} Closet. She’s THRILLED! I am, too.

    Getting ready to link-up. Hope you dears have a wonderful weekend!

    Reply
  41. Dawn @ Redbird Cottage Art says

    October 21, 2011 at 3:22 PM

    Wow! I might be here all day!

    Reply
  42. CalypsoInTheCountry says

    October 21, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    Hi Girls,
    Thanks for hosting again! I am looking forward to checking out some goodies. Have a great weekend!
    -Shelley

    Reply
  43. Mimi says

    October 21, 2011 at 5:40 PM

    Thanks for hosting this party. Great opportunity to learn about new blogs.

    Reply
  44. Becca says

    October 21, 2011 at 9:05 PM

    Thanks for hosting !! Fabulous features, and I love all of the pumpkins !! Have a wonderful weekend !!

    Reply
  45. Sherry says

    October 21, 2011 at 9:14 PM

    Thanks for hosting!
    Sherry

    Reply
  46. Pam says

    October 21, 2011 at 9:40 PM

    Thanks for hosting girls. Have a wonderful fall weekend.

    Reply
  47. Hollie - TheSevenYearCottage says

    October 21, 2011 at 11:28 PM

    Thank you for hosting!

    Reply
  48. Tanya@takesix says

    October 22, 2011 at 12:27 AM

    Hey you sweet sisters…thanks so much for featuring our Canadian Thanksgiving table from Take Six. We really appreciate it!!! :0)

    You are welcome to relax on the hammock any time!!!

    Reply
  49. hilary @ oldhouse.truelove. says

    October 22, 2011 at 1:22 PM

    love! your blog… newest fan here
    : )

    Reply
  50. NanaDiana says

    October 22, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    All I gotta say is WOW! xo Diana

    Reply
  51. Emily says

    October 23, 2011 at 4:51 PM

    thank you so much for hosting!!!
    ~emily
    nestnestingnested.blogspot

    Reply
  52. Erin of HomeSavvyAtoZ.com says

    October 23, 2011 at 5:47 PM

    Thank you so much for featuring my Pumpkin Topiaries. I love your party and always look forward to it. I am thrilled to be featured!

    Reply
  53. Marcia - Crafty Sewing and Quilting says

    October 23, 2011 at 11:09 PM

    Thanks for hosting just linked up and linked back and I tweeted your party too!
    Again … lots of creative ideas!
    Thanks!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How to Organize Your Pantry | Satori Design for Living says:
    February 3, 2013 at 8:57 AM

    […] week I’m linking to At the Picket Fence, Chic on a Shoestring Budget and Home Stories A2Z. Come check it […]

    Reply
  2. 31 Days: (Day 20) Halloween Treat Mix and Free Printable Label - Yellow Bliss Road says:
    October 1, 2013 at 2:47 PM

    […] linking to:House of HepworthsTatertots And JelloAt the Picket Fence The Shabby Nest Fingerprints on the Fridge Under the Table and […]

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I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 y I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 years now and every year I ohhhh and ahhhh over the blossoms like it's the first time I've ever seen them. I gush and I take photos (that look exactly like the ones I took the year before and the year before that) and I make my family come outside and look at them with me which you know they just LOVE to do. 😉 I think that is one of the main reasons why I love spring so much. On the one hand, it's predictable and yet, on the other hand, it still feels like such a surprise after the long months of barren branches.

And yesterday, as I was staring at the gorgeous blossoms for the umpteenth time, I couldn't help but think that I hope this is how I feel when our lives return to some semblance of normalcy.

I hope that the predictable feels special and that the typical feels anything but. I hope that I ohhh and ahhh over the simple things I've realized I've taken for granted. And, most of all, I hope that feeling doesn't go away for a very, very long time! 💗
Are you living with great expectation friends? Bec Are you living with great expectation friends? Because He is risen!

Happy Easter from my home to yours!
Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to be a different kind of Easter for sure but some things don’t change. Have you been baking and getting ready for tomorrow? What’s one thing on your menu that you have to have every year?
If this is Good Friday, why doesn’t it feel so “good”? It all seems backward doesn’t it?

What could be good about the unspeakable pain he suffered? What could be good about the shame and betrayal?

Easter Sunday is so joyful, bright and cheery. Shouldn’t that be the day we call “good”? It just feels so much better!

But, I don’t know how to rejoice over His resurrection, unless I have felt the pain of His death. I have realized that in life the sweetest victories are the ones which were realized after a pain-filled journey.

And, so it is with Good Friday. I know there will be victory over death, but I can’t skip ahead in the story.

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew what he would experience. And he knew why he would go through it. He did it for me. He did it for you.

Do you know that? Have you felt it down in the very core of your soul? 
Sometimes it makes me squirm a bit. Why would anyone do that for me?

Well, because, I can’t do it for myself!

There is nothing I can do to earn that kind of love and mercy.

That is why it is called GRACE.

His grace is freely given. We don’t have to pay for it. He paid the price for us already.

Do you remember that movie from years ago called “Ransom”? A couple’s young son was kidnapped and the parents went to hell and back trying to find him and pay the “ransom” demanded by the kidnappers.

Well, Jesus is our “ransom”. (1 Timothy 2:6) His life was the payment.

Why is it called “Good Friday”? Because that wasn’t the end of the story….
.
…It was just the beginning!
Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house that’s become the landing zone for ALL THE THINGS! 🙋🏻‍♀️🤪 I’ve never been more thankful for our rarely used dining room table as it’s become command central for school books and laptops and games.

Where are things collecting in your house right now?
“Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every si “Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every single one of these emotions has made their way through our home in recent days and, my guess is, they have in your home too.

I SO needed this reminder today from the new book ‘Adore’ by @sarahagertywrites.

Adoration isn’t just sitting at His feet gazing longingly with stars in my eyes. It’s bringing my fears and my sorrows and gray roots in my hair that desperately needs to be colored and my messy house and all of the things that threaten to send me over the edge right now and laying them down before Him, soaking up His word and His presence so that when I stand back up, I am changed for having spent the time adoring the ONE who is... Healer, comforter, peace-giver, deliverer, redeemer.

What do you need to bring to Him today? I’ll share mine in the comments and I’d love to hear from you too!
I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole lockdown thing began, I’ve come to appreciate this time of day even more.

It feels the most...normal. Daytime is strange and foreign right now. My husband has taken over our home office, I’m suddenly taking over the responsibility of managing my kids’ distance learning and let me just say that teaching 7th grade algebra to my daughter is hugely ironic since I struggled with math all the way through school. I’m trying to do my own work but it feels utterly futile with the constant interruptions which take precedence right now. In the daytime, I’m constantly reminded of how upside down life feels.

But, in the evening, I cook dinner like I’ve always done and we gather around the table like we’ve always done and we laugh and tell stories and then clean up and play games or go on a walk or watch a show. And that feels SO gloriously normal.

So now I love evenings even more than I ever did before and I’m so grateful for this little chunk of time where the rhythms we established years ago are helping to sustain us now when so much of life feels outside of our control.

What feels ‘normal’ to you right now? Whatever it is, keep doing it. 🌿
When I was in college I would frequently call home When I was in college I would frequently call home and pour my heart out to my mom, sharing with her all that was happening in my life in that completely unfiltered way that you can talk with the person who potty trained you. These phone calls usually took place at night and my mom would patiently listen as I vented frustrations about professors, roommates, boyfriends and the food in the cafeteria. And, inevitably, they would end with my mom saying, “Everything seems worse when you’re tired. Try not to overthink things or make any major decisions tonight, especially when you are feeling emotional.” Dear friends, may I pass along this advice to you today?

If you don’t absolutely HAVE to make a decision right now, I want to encourage you to wait until life gets back to normal. If you are finding yourself over-analyzing relationships and family dynamics, I want to encourage you to remember that everything seems more dramatic when looked at under a microscope. And, let’s face it, being homebound with our loved ones non-stop makes us all feel like lab rats in an experiment.

If you are tempted to quit a job, start a business, start homeschooling permanently, stop homeschooling permanently, move to a new city, buy a farm, quit pursuing your dream, join a commune or make any other major life decision just…wait. Because, if it is in fact the right decision, it will be made even clearer once our lives return to their ‘regularly scheduled programming’. Instead, in this strange season, let’s all just take a deep, collective breath and let it out slowly, releasing the anxiety that threatens to overtake us. Let’s help each other maintain some perspective and not slip into a posture of over-thinking every little thing in our lives. Let’s remember that the enemy of our souls would love nothing more than to use this time when things feel dark to manipulate us into thinking that aspects of our lives are worse than they actually are.

My prayer for you in these days is that you will have the clarity to know what is true and that you will be filled with peace even while we live in this season of so many unknowns.
Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking thes Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking these days! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m trying to avoid gaining the #corona15 but my daughter and I LOVE baking together and it does help to pass the time plus it counts as a science lesson right?

If you’re able to find flour in the stores (for the love people please stop overbuying!) and you’re doing more baking at your house too you need to add this apricot bread to your list of new recipes to try!

Normally I’d point you to my blog for the directions but I’m going to do you a solid and leave the full recipe in the comments.

What have you baked so far during this time of social distancing? I’d love some new ideas!
There are a LOT of people out walking in our neigh There are a LOT of people out walking in our neighborhood right now (but still social distancing!) and she decided that she wanted to bring them some joy and put a smile on their face when they pass by our house. Also, the square with ‘say no to coronavirus’ is priceless. 😂 I just love her so much!
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